Apparatus for applying insulation



March 16, 1948. J. c. MOORE APPARATS FOR APPLYING INSULATION Filed May9, 1940 5 Sheetsv-Sheet l March 16, 1948. J, c, MQQRE 2,437,83l`

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING INSULATION Filed May 9, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 oCL /o March l, 1948. J. c. MOORE 2,437,831

' APPARATUS FOR APPLYING INSULATION l Filed lay 9, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 3March 16, 194s. J. c. MOORE 2,437,831

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APPARATUS FOR APPLYING INSULATION Filed May 9, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5Patented Mar.,V 16, 1948 APPARATUS FOR APPLYING INSULATION John C.Moore, Connersvillc, Ind., assigner to Rex Manufacturing Company, Inc.,Connorsvllle, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application May 9, 1940,serial No. 334,296

(o1. 2li-101) 8 Claims.

l This invention relates to an apparatus tor applying insulationmaterial between spaced walls or like compartments, particularly betweenthe outer and inner walls of refrigerator cabinets.

Loose insulation material has certain advantages over insulation vof thepackaged type, provided it is properly applied, that is, evenly and ofconstant density throughout the compartment to be insulated. Heretofore,as far as known, the stuing of loose insulation material between theouter and inner walls of refrigerator cabinets has been dene manually.Outside of the labor and time involved and consequent increased cost ofthe cabinet, there was the added objection that the insulation wasoittimes improperly applied, the fault generally being that the materialwould pack or stu unevenly, leaving loose spaces or pockets and areasvaryingin density, and the bres would not felt together or interengageproperly, with the result that certain cabinets might be well insulatedwhile others would have an inferior insulating job.

The usual practice in manually insulating the space between the outerand inner walls of a refrigerator cabinet is to stuif the insulation infrom the back of the cabinet before mounting the back plate. The cabinetis laid on its face and the depth of the space to be insulated istherefore substantially equal to the width of the cabinet. Since theopening at the back between the food compartment liner and outer wall isrelatively small, it is practically impossible for a workman to gainaccess with his hands to the full depth of the compartment to beinsulated. This handicap also tends to an ineillcient insulation job.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a method ofand apparatus for automatically applying or stuffing insulation materialbetween spaced walls or like compartments, more especially between theouter and inner walls of refrigerator cabinets, in a manner such as toobtain even and eiilcient insulation throughout the space or compartmentto be insulated.

Other objects include features of novelty and advantage incident to amachine for carrying out the method. and which objects and advantageswill become apparent in view of the followingr description taken inconjunction with the drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a machine for insulating refrigeratorcabinets constructed in accordance with the features of the presentinvention, the view being taken from the side of the conveyor on whichthe cabinets are carried to the machine;

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation taken opposite that of Fig. 1, theconveyor and supporting frame structure being shown in transversesection;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken throughthe lower end of the feed hopper and induction feed tubes and adjacentparts Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 4-4of Fig. 3:

Fig. 5 is a substantially central longitudinal section taken through theair distributor which controls the application of-air under pressure tothe induction feed tubes; and

Fig. 6 is a view in end elevation of Fig. 5.

Generally stated, the method consists in conducting loose insulationmaterial to the compartment or compartments to be insulated through oneor more feed or induction conduits and applying air under pressureintermittently or in a series of pulsations to the material passingthrough said conduits to obtain a more even and dense packing of thematerial and intermesh of libres and to also draw or induct the materialinto the conduits, and relieving air from the -compartment during theinsulating operation in a manner such as to avoid back pressure andformation of pockets or spaces of uneven density and to ensure completefilling of the compartment.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and rst to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, ahopper 5, preferably of cone shape, is suspended from suitable overheadsupporting structure by means of depending hanger brackets or rods 6,the insulation material being delivered to the hopper direct from theconveyor oi a shredding machine, not herein shown and forming no part ofthe present invention.

Any suitable type of loose insulation material may be used, such asbalsam wool libre, and the like.

The hopper 5 serves as a support for other parts of the machine. as willbe noted. In the lower extremity of the hopper is mounted an agitator lwhich at its opposite ends terminates in shaft portions supported inbearings 8. At one end, the agitator shaft is provided with a coupling 9which connects the agitator with a suitable driving means, such as themotor I0, the latter being provided with switch I0, This agitator servesto prevent packing or bridging-over of the insulation material while themachine is in operation.

Connected to the lower end of the hopper 5 by means of-brackets i2iswhat is herein termed an induction head il which is also preferablycone-shaped and in effect forms a continuation of the hopper. The lowerextremity of the induction head is provided with a plurality of holes oropenings i4, there being four in the present instance. to which areconnected induction tubes II. i3". I3 and i3d, which lead downwardly andproject into a master plate to be described. The lower end of theinduction head is closed by an inverted cone i4 which projects upwardlyinto the head and serves to properly direct or guide the material andalso provides an anchor for a plurality of air tubes i5". ilib, ll andIl, there heling one foreach of the induction tubes i4*- II The tubesIB--Illd connect at one end with what is herein termed an airdistributor, generally indicated at I 8. note Figs. 5 and 6. Thisdistributor comprises a housing formed with an air chamber I1 which hasYin communication tion from the pipes i3, il. i3. and |44 and likewisethere are openings corresponding to the openings 31'. 31", 31. 314 and31 and the plates 8l respectively. The same master plate is used innlling cabinets of varying sizes with an adapter plate corresponding tothe size of the cabinet,4 the master plate being secured to the adapterplate with the openings of each in registration. the screws 3l throughthe brackets 3l* therewith a series of ports il. each of which iscontrolled by a valve I8 adapted to engage a seat 20. each valve beingnormally urged to seated position by air pressure and also by spring 2|.The valves are each provided with a stem I8* which has movement in aguide 22.

The valves I9 are intermittently or periodically opened or lifted bymeans of a cam 23 ilxed on a shaft 24, which has a driving connectionwith armature shaft 25 of motor 28 through nexible coupling 21.

It will be seen that as cam 23 is rotated, it successively contacts orwipes the lower ends of the stems i9, successively raising the valves I8 from their seats 20 and admitting air into the ports i8. l

Air under pressure may be generated by any suitable means, such as aconventional pressure unit, and passed through conduit 23 and thencethrough regulator 29 into pressure tank 30. The regulator may beadjusted to maintain the pressure constant while' the reserve orequalizing tank functions to prevent surging in a manner well understoodin the art. From the tank 30 the air passes through conduit or pipe 3iinto the chamber or space i1 of the distributor I6, note Fig. 2 inconjunction with Fig. 5. Tank 30 may be provided with a safety valve 32;

Each of the tubes Iil--Ilid communicates with one of the conduits ortubes I3-I3d through nozzle 33, the latter being reversely bent orturned to direct pulsating blasts of air downwardly through its coactinginduction tube or conduit.

At the lower ends of the induction conduits or tubes I3a-i3d is a masterplate 34 provided with holes 4, 34h, 34c and 34d into which the loweropen ends of the conduits project, the plate and conduits beingconnected as by Welding. This master plate is adapted to flt over thespace to be insulated at the back of the refrigerator cabinet,

generally indicated at C, the cabinet being elevated against the platein a manner to be described.

Coacting with the master plate is an adaptor plate 35 provided withguides 35 arranged to slide on the marginal edges of the master plate 34and be adjustably clamped thereto by means of screw clamps 36. Thefunction of this adaptor plate is to adapt the master plate 34 tovarying sizes of cabinets, this being the only change necessary when aline of cabinets of a different size is being insulated. The adapterplate 35 is of course provided with openings corresponding to and inalignment with the openings in the master plate. 1n other words, thereare four openings corresponding to the openings 84", 34",

clamping the master plate to the adapter as stated.

In order to fill or stuff the cabinet with insulation material evenlyand of constant density throughout the compartment, it is important thatall back pressure be relieved during the insulating operation, and ithas also been found important that this release take place as near aspossible to the source of induction. With this in view, the master plate34 is provided with groups of air release holes or vents 31, 31, 31s,314 and 31. These groups are arranged in a particular manner withrespect to the sides and ends of the cabinet with the central group 31efunctioning as a buffer to prevent the material from blowing across fromone side to the other. Since the induction period is relatively short.it is necessary to have a longer period of release, this period beinggoverned by the size and number or exhaust capacity of the holes in themaster plate 34. Y In order to regulate the air release to obtain themost efficient operation of the machine. each group of holes 311-31' maybe provided with an adiustor plate 33. which may, if desired, beadjusted while the machine is in operation.

In order to ensure complete filling of the com'- partment to beinsulated with insulation material. means are provided for releasing airpressure from the tubes when the cabinet has been substantiallycompletely insulated, such means being in the form of sleeves or collars39 which are telescoped over and rotatably mounted around the lower endof each of the induction tubes i3*- l3d, each sleeve 39 being providedwith a series of holes 39* adapted to register with like holes 40 formedin the side walls of the induction tubes, note particularly Fig. 3.These sleeves are .provided with arms 4i connected in pairs by links 42and 42, the said links in turn being pivotally connected to an operatinglever 43 pivotally mounted or fulcrumed on a stud 43l projectingupwardly from the master plate 34. By adjusting the lever 43, the timeand degree of air re. lease may be accurately regulated to obtaincomplete insulation of each cabinet.

To maintain the insulation material as well as the surroundingatmosphere free of dust at all times and to also ensure completeevacuation of air from the space being insulated, a shield or hood 44 isapplied over the induction head I I and connects through conduit 45 withsuction fan 46 driven by motor 41 mounted on pedestal 48. the dust ladenair being discharged through conduit 49.

The cabinets to be insulated are brought to and taken from the machineon a conveyor 5U provided with rollers 50, note Figs. 1 and 2, andadjacent the machine a platform 5i is provided to accommodate anoperator or operators land to support the hoist and elevating mechanismfor the cabinets. This mechanism as herein shown comprises a carriage,generally indicated at 52, made up of a pair of` channel bars 52 and B2bof substantially inverted U shape arranged parallel 84, and 34d topermit the discharge 0f insula- 75 with the conveyor rolls 50. Securedas by welding adjacent the ends of said channel bars are steel tubes 53arranged for vertical sliding movement through guides 54, the slidingtubes 53 at their lower ends being bolted to lifting plate 55 providedwith truss members 55 to form a rigid structure. The central portion ofthe plate 55 has connected thereto the lower end of a connecting rod 56,the upper end of the latter being pivotally connected to lever l whichis secured f on rock shaft 58 rotatably mounted in bearings 59 suspendedfrom channel frame members 50. The outer end of the shaft 58 has securedthereon arm 6i which connects through link 62 with arm 63 mounted onstub shaft 54 which projects into gear box 65 in which is` mounted wormdrive gearing of conventional construction. An operating shaft B6projects vertically from the gear box 64 through platform 5l andpedestal bearing 61 and is provided on its upper end with a handwheel58.

It will be seen that when the hand wheel 68 is rotated, rotation istransmitted to rock shaft 58 which pulls upwardly on the trussed plate55 and elevates the carriage 52. If desired, a power drive may besubstituted for the handwheel 68.

The lifting or hoisting mechanism is preferably counterweighted, thecounterweight (not shown) being connected to the end of a cable 69 whichis passed over a pulley 'l and connects at its one end with a lever 1isecured on the rock shaft 58. This lever is secured on the shaft 58 in amanner such that the outer end of the lever to which the cable isattached is slightly below the center line of the shaft when lowered toprevent the pull of the cable from exerting a lifting force on thecarriage when the cabinet is removed.

The machine operates as follows:

Refrigerator cabinets are insulated between the spaced outer and innerwalls thereof, the inner wall being defined by the food compartmentliner, the back wall of which is exposed at the back of the cabinet whenthe cabinet is ready for the insulating operation with a space betweenthe marginal edges of the outer wall and liner, as is Well understood bythose having a knowledge of this particular art.

The cabinets. having been assembled to this point, are brought to aposition adjacent to carria-ge 52 on the conveyor 5D, face down, andthen placed on the carriage and elevated against the master plate 3d.This master plate constitutes in effect a temporary back plate orclosure in spaced relation to the back wall of the food compartmentliner. The position of the cabinet with respect to the master plate issuch that there will be one of the holes 34a- 34d communicatingr withthe compartment to be insulated adjacent each corner thereof.

The machine is preferably provided with one control for turning on theair and starting the motors I0, 26 and 4l. Thus when the air is turnedon, cam 23 of the air distributor I6 is caused to rotate to successivelylift the valves I9 and permit air under pressure to'pass into andthrough the tubes I5--i5d and thence through nozzles 33 into theinduction tubes ISB-i3d. The air blast through each induction tube isintermittent or pulsating, causing the material to be forcefully ejectedin batches from the discharge ends of the induction tubes l3ii-I3clthrough the holes 34a- 34d in the master plate 3E. This action hasproved to be highly eicient in causing the loose insulation to pack to aconstant density and the fibres thereof to felt" together or intermesh;it might be compared to a careful manual Job of detaching or picking oismall batches of substantially constant or uniform size and tamping thebatches as they are laid in place.

The'air blast not only forces the insulation through the tubes ile-Wiand into the compartment'to be insulated but also draws or inducts thematerial from the hopper and induction head intothe tubes. s

The capacity of the air release holes 31E-31d in the master plate 3lshould be such as to prevent any tendency toward back pressure,permitting the insulation fibres to pass freely into the compartment tobe insulated.

The lever 43 is maintained in a position such that the holes in thelower extremities of the induction tubes I3-l3d will be closed until thei insulating operation is substantially completed. at which time thelever is moved to uncover said openings or holes 40 and permit the airto be released as the insulation banks up close to the master plate.

The machine is then stopped, the carriage 52 lowered and the cabinetremoved.' Should there be any unfilled spaces or areas at the back ofthe cabinet, these may be readily insulated manually. since they wouldbe completely exposed and accessible. The back plate is then applied andthe joint around the latter sealed, completing this phase of thefabricating and assembling operation.

Actual experience has demonstrated thatcabinets may be insulated morerapidly and more emciently than can be done manually.

It will be understood that the invention contemplates changes instructure and design' to adapt the machine to different types ofinsulation jobs and to conform to conditions at-the place ofinstallation and use without departing from the spirit or scope of theinventive concept as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. I n a. machine for insulating the space between outer and inner wallsof a refrigerator cabinet. a conduit communicating with a source 5ofloose insulation material and said space, a

cover plate overlying said space and adapted to substantially close thelatter around the conduit, means for delivering air under pressure tomaterial in the conduit to forcefully eject the material therefrom intosaid space, the discharge extremity of the conduit being provided withone or more air release ports or openings, and means for selectivelyclosing and opening said ports and whereby when the space has beensubstantially completely lled to a point within the discharge area ofthe conduit air may be-vented from said ports to permit complete illlingof the space.

2. In a machine for thermally insulating the `space between inner andouter Walls of refrigerator cabinets, a hopper. a series of conduitscommunicating with said hopper to said space. said conduits at theirdischarge ends being disposed to deliver material at different pointsover theV space, a master plate adapted to substantially close oil' thespace around said conduits, an adapter mounting said master plate foraccommodating different sizes of cabinets, a source of air underpressure, means for conducting air from said source to said conduits andcausing the air to be discharged into the conduits towards said space,means for interrupting the ow of air to thereby cause the material to beintermittently discharged from said conduits and in batches, and meansfor venting air from said space to assassi and an air distributoroperating to interrupt the flow oi' air periodically and successivelywith respect to the respective conduits to thereby cause the material tobe forcefully delivered from said conduits in batches distributed overthe spa/ce.

4. In a machine for transferring loose material to a space to beinsulated, a plurality of conduits communicating with a source, ofmaterial and' said space, a source of air under pressure, means fordirecting air from said source on the material in said conduits, an airdistributor interposed in saidv last named means and having a series ofvalves to control the admission of air into said conduits and a valveactuating member operative to move said valves to air-release positionsuccessively and intermittently to thereby cause the material to beejected from said conduits into said space in batches and in successiveorder with respect to said conduits.

5. In a machine for transferring loose insulation material to a space tobe insulated, a hopper containing a mass of material, one ormoreconduits communicating said hopper with said space, a source of air.under pressure. a pipe or tube communicating with said source anddisposed to discharge air into said conduit towards said space tothereby cause the material to be discharged from the conduit and to alsoinduct material into the conduit from the hopper, a master plate adaptedto overlie said plate and substantially close off the space around theconduit, a series of air relief vents in said master plate to preventback pressure from building up within the space, the lower extremity ofsaid Vconduit being also provided with air-release means, and means forselectively controlling said latter air-release means to avoid backpressure when the space has been illled with insulation material to apoint within the discharge area of the conduit.

6. In a machine for transferring loose insulation material to a space tobe insulated, a hopper, a series of conduits communicating with saidhopper and said space, said conduits having their discharge endsdisposed to deliver material into said space at different points overthe latter, a master plate overlying said space and substantiallyclosing olf the latter around said conduits. an adapter mounting saidmaster plate to accommodate said plate to different sizes and shapes ofarticles to be insulated, a source of air under pressure, means forconducting air from said source and. applying it to the material in saidconduits towards the discharge end of the latter, means for periodicallyinterrupting the flow of air into said conduits successively withrespect to the conduits to thereby cause the material to be dischargedfrom said conduits in batchesdistributed over the space, and means forrelieving air from the space to be insulated to avoid back pressureduring the insulating operation.

7. In a machine for transferring loose material to a space to beinsulated a plurality of conduits communicating with a source ofmaterial in said space, a source of air under pressure, pipescommunicating with said air source and each of said conduits, meansattached to said pipes and disposed in said conduits, said meanscomprising tubular extensions extending longitudinally of said conduitsand serving to direct air from said pipes on the material in saidconduits and in the direction of movement thereof, an air distributordisposed in said pipes and having a series of valves to control theadmission of air into said conduits and, a valve actuating memberoperative to move said valves to air release position successively andintermittently to thereby cause the material to be ejected from saidconduits into said space in batches and in successive order with respectto said conduits.

8. In a machine for transferring loose insulation material to a space tobe insulated, a hopper, a series of conduits arranged to direct materialfrom said hopper to said space, said conduits having their dischargeends arranged to deliver material into said space at different pointsover the latter, a master plate overlying said space and substantiallyclosing off the latter around said conduits, an adapter mounting saidmaster plate to accommodate said plate to different sizes and shapes ofarticles to be insulated, a source of air under pressure, means forconducting air from said source and applying it to the material in saidconduits towards the discharge end of the latter and means forperiodically interrupting the flow of air into saidconduits to therebycause the material to be discharged from said conduits in batchesdistributed over the space.

. JOHN C. MOORE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in thc file oithis patent:

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